Illuminated sign.



N0. 645,64l. Pat ented Mar. 20, woo. a. J. rzneusou.

ILLUMINATED SIGN, (Application filed June 6, 1899.) (No Model.)

WITNESSES:

4 eQJi INVENTOR Nrrnn STATES PATENT rricn.

GEORGE'J. FERGUSON, OF OLYPHANI, PENNSYLVANIA.

lLLUMlNATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,641, dated March20, 1900.

Application filed June 5,1899. Serial No. 719,466. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Olyphant, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIlluminated Signs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accom pan ying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a central verticallongitudinal section of the invention. Fig. 2 is a central verticaltransverse section of the invention, showing,

the lamps arranged vertically. Fig. 3 is a section of the hand-wheel andadjacent parts, said wheel being shown in its lower position and lockedagainst turning. Fig. 4 illustrates the construction of the hand-wheelhub and adjacent parts in detail.

This invention is designed to provide an illuminated sign of novel,practical, and durable character for electric cars and other publicvehicles; and it consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the tened to theroof of the car, or, it may be, in

any other desired position on the vehicle. In the drawings, however, thedevice is shown as mounted on the roof of the car, and the operatingdevices are correspondingly arranged; but the latter can be readily adjusted to a changed position of the sign by slight mechanicalmodifications.

The inner end portions of the shafts B are supported and held in theshort arms (I of a bail-shaped strap D, which lies longitudinally withinthe sign-carrying frame A. Said frame is composed of the end pieceshereinbefore referred to and the four connecting-pieces A.

These pieces may be formed from strips of sheet metal, each of which isbent into the form best shown by the cross section, Fig. 2'- that is tosay, the body portion of the strip is bent into triangular form incross-section, and the edge portions are then bent over par allel withthe adjacent sides of the triangular portion but separated therefrom byspaces a, which form guide or slide ways for the sign-plates E. The endpieces of the frame are formed with surrounding inturned flanges A whichare firml y secured by solder or riveting to the triangular portions ofthe connecting-pieces, whose end portions fit neatly the angles formedby said flanges. In this manner is formed a strong and durable frame,which is well adapted to receive and hold the slides E. These slides areof transparent or translucent material (colored glass with White lettersbeing preferred) and may each be in one piece, or each may be composedof sevits open side squarely facing one of the signplates. The endpieces F of the reflector are secured on the inner portions of theshafts B by means of nuts f. The bail-.strapD may or may not be securedto the reflector.

G designates electric lamps, one or moreof which may be employed. Theselamps may be supported from one of the shafts B, as shown in Fig. 1, orthey may be secured to the reflector, as shown in .Fig. 2. Thesupplywires G therefor are led in through one of the shafts B, which ismade of tubular form for that purpose.

H designates a T-shaped hanger whose tubular short arm is looselysleeved on one of the shafts B, exteriorly of the frame A, and Whosevertical arm'extends down through the roof of the car. I is a sleevewhich loosely surrounds the said vertical arm and also ex tends downthrough the roof of the car. On the upper end of this sleeve is a bevelgear wheel J, which meshes with a similar wheel J, rigidly secured toone end of the frame A around the shaft B.

The lower end of the sleeve I is formed with vertical slots 1;, whichreceive therein lugs or projections 7.; of a hand-wheel K. On the lowerend of the vertical armof the hanger H is a square projection h, towhich is fitted and secured a washer L, formed with peripheral notchesl, which are designed to be engaged by projections l on the under sideof the hand-wheel K.

It will be readily seen that so long as the projections Z remain inengagement with the notches Z the hand-wheel K and sleeve I cannot beturned, but that by an upward movement of the said wheel (its lugs ksliding in the slots 2') sufficient to disengage the said projections 1said wheel and sleeve can be turned to thereby rot-ate the sign-frameand expose a new sign whenever necessary or desired. As soon as thewheel is released by the hand the projections I become rengaged with thenotches Z, and the sign -frame is locked against movement. In thismanner accidental movement of the sign -frame is guarded against.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sign of the character described, a rotatable frame composed ofend pieces, and longitudinallyextending connecting-pieces, thelatter'being formed each of a single strip of sheet metal whose bodyportion is bent upon itself to form a hollow triangular prism, and whoseedge portions are bentinto positions parallel with the adjacent sides ofthe said prism to form therewith guides for the signplates,substantially as specified.

2. In a sign of the character described, a rotatahle frame composed ofend pieces, and longitudinally-extending connecting-pieces,

the latter being formed each of a single strip of sheet metal whose bodyportion is bent upon itself to form a hollow triangular prism, and whoseedge portions are bent into positions parallel with the adjacent sidesof the said prism to form therewith guides for the sign plates, togetherwith interchangeable signplates fitted to be received in said guides,substantially as specified.

The combination with the rotatablymounted sign-carrying frame, the endshafts on which it is mounted, and the bevel gearwheel fixed to one endportion of said frame, of the hanger having its horizontal arm looselysleeved on one of said end shafts adjacent to said bevel gear Wheel, thesleeve loosely mounted on the other arm of said hanger and carrying agear-wheel which meshes with the first-named gear-wheel, means forturning said sleeve, and means for locking the sleeve against turning,substantially as specified.

4:. The combination of the rotatable signframe, its end bearings, thebevel gear-wheel fixed to said frame, the hanger sleeved loosely on oneof said bearings exteriorly of the said frame, the sleeve rotatablymounted on one arm of said hanger and having slots at one end portion, agear-wheel on said sleeve which meshes with the gear-wheel on the frame,a hand-wheel movable on said sleeve and formed with projections whichloosely en gage its slots, and a washer-pieee seen red to the hanger andhaving notches therein, said hand-wheel having projections adapted forengagement with said slots, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE J. FERGUSON.

WVit-nesses:

W. O. MOONEY, F. M. LYNCH.

